“I’m actually sweet all the time,” she replies.
“You’re half-Italian, and part-Filipino and Indonesian. So you’respicy, at best.”
She stops, turns, and takes me in like she knows I’ve been deflecting this entire time. Then she asks, “You okay, Stan? You can talk real with me.”
“I’m gonna be living on a floating psych ward for a while. Either I come back healed or with a permanent eye twitch.”
“You’ll come back different,” she says, smiling.
I shrug. “Or not come back at all. Which still counts as different.”
She cups my jaw. “Don’t forget we care about you, Stan,” she says. “Even when you’re the worst.”
I want to make a joke. I really do. But it sticks in my throat. Then Damon appears over her shoulder. He patiently and pointedly glances at the ship, where the line of people’s disappeared inside.
“You’ll be late,” he says.
I sigh.Yeah, wouldn’t wanna miss the best seats in this illegal drug cruise, would I?
It’s a miracle I keep that thought to myself. I turn away, lifting my bag and slinging the strap over my shoulder. Fuck, it’s heavier than I remembered. And sadly, no forehead kisses and no hand-holding. It’s only me and my baggage.
I toss the lovers a lazy wink. “See you on the other side.”
“We better,” Kaye says. Damon just nods in my direction.
I walk away. No one calls me back. No one stops me.
Wanna know what’s strange about all that? That’s how I know they care. They trust me to figure my own shit out.
They believe in me. God help ‘em.
***
Inside, the ship’s bigger than I expected. Sleek in a brutalist, vaguely threatening way.
Security nods me through—cleared in advance, thanks to Damon and Kaye pulling strings—and I mutter something half charming, half regrettable. No one laughs. Amazing start to my personality tour.
Someone calls my name. I turn, ready to say something snarky, but then I see it’s Idris. With that same sun-kissed smile, and his shirt sleeves rolled up while sporting a cute tie that gives off Doctor Dreamy energy.
Smirking, I say, “Hey, Idris. Lookin’ dashing.”
“Didn’t think you’d actually come,” he says, extending a hand.
I take it. “Didn’t think I had anything better to do,” I say. “Figured I’d sign up for this and see what shakes loose.”
He chuckles. “Good to have you.”
Then his eyes move, from me to Darius, who’s walking past us. The older Adel doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t even look at either of us.
He glides down the hall. The air chills down a few degrees. I don’t know how someone can be icier than my two brothers, but there’s Darius.
Idris pats my arm. “I should go thank Damon and Kaye while they’re outside and we’re still docked.”
I nod, distracted by the very distinct vibe that I’ve just made contact with a ghost.
“Oh and,” Idris says, turning partway back, “we’re still waiting on one more participant.”
I cock my head. Okay, that sounded way too ominous for just onemore guy, but all I say is, “Ooh, mysterious.”
